KING OF THE WORD

Scrabble number one Brett Smitheram explains how parasitic wasps and cannibals led him to glory

“People sometimes assume before they meet me that I’m obsessed with spelling,” says Brett Smitheram. Smitheram’s grievance would be an unusual one for most people, but as Scrabble world champion it’s become a somewhat predictable problem – as has the odd assumption that the recruitment consultant’s mastery of letters on a grid means he struggles to put together words off the tabletop.

About Tabletop Gaming

Cover feature: Bears vs Babies: We chat with Elan Lee about following up Exploding Kittens with this hilarious monster mash-up set to be the summer’s biggest hit.
GKR: Heavy Hitters: We take a dive into the world of Giant Killer Robots with senior concept designer Paul Tobin.
Infection at Outpost 31: A beautiful adaptation of John Carpenter’s seminal horror film The Thing.
Pro gaming special: How champions turned their hobby into a profession.
First Martians: Designer Ignacy Trzewiczek guides us through his highly anticipated Adventures on the Red Planet.
Tales from the Loop: We talk to the makers of the throwback RPG.
The Ultimate Gaming Room: A look at what you should be cramming into your tabletop haven.
PLUS
• Cooking With Dice: Roleplaying with real-life cookery.
• The Occult on the Tabletop: The influence of tarot cards and Ouija board.
• Survive: Escape from Atlantis!: We look back at the beloved adventure game.
• The Making of… Star Wars X-Wing
• Painting Guide: Runewars
• A Dungeon Master’s Guide to RPGs
• Ten of the Best: 10 Budget Games for Under a Tenner
• Introduction to… Pathfinder
• My Favourite Game: Cry Havoc designer Grant Rodiek
• First Turn: Acclaimed Citadels creator Bruno Faidut
• Club Spotlight: Redditch Wargaming Society
• Shop Spotlight: Southampton’s Board in the City
• Played: 20 games and accessories reviewed